Much like in baseball, softball players have a number of options to score scholarships
outside of their intended college programs. Summer leagues are a particularly good
source if you play in one or have played in one, and also a good place to gain exposure
if you are going for a college-funded award. Many of these local scholarships look
beyond talent if they consider it at all, and instead take into account academic
achievements, financial need, extracurricular activities outside of softball, community
service, and overall character.
Most of the larger schools also have scholarship funds offered by alumni who have
played on their college team, and funding dedicated to drawing talented softball
players to that college. College-based funding is regulated by an outside organization
like the NCAA, so eligible players will need a minimum GPA in addition to a proven
track record on the field.
Check out some examples of how to find softball scholarships below. For additional
information about awards based on different criteria, try conducting a free college
scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
NCAA Scholarships
About $1 billion in full and partial athletic scholarships are awarded each year
by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to more than 126,000 undergraduate
student-athletes at Division I and Division II schools. Although these scholarships
are awarded and administered directly by each academic institution, not the NCAA,
you’ll be required to meet the requirements of the NCAA to receive any funding.
Those requirements include a minimum GPA for both the college-bound and those already
on campuses, and qualifying standardized test scores. Contact your intended school’s
athletic department for more information if you have the academics and the skill
to play on a college team.
College-Based Scholarships
If you plan on playing softball in college, whether on a varsity team or on the
club level, your intended college could have funds and endowments set up by alumni
who played the sport before you ever set foot on that campus or in honor of relatives
and important figures to your school. Southeastern Community College in Iowa, for
example, awards the Marion Schmidt Softball Scholarship. Students who have signed
a letter of intent to play softball on the school’s team and maintain a 2.0 GPA
for freshmen and 2.2 GPA for sophomores are eligible. Make sure you do your research,
and talk to your financial aid office and athletic departments about local and college-based
awards you could be eligible for.
Established by Alliance Pipeline in 2001, this scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to a student-athlete who demonstrates strong academic performance. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA and participate in an intercollegiate sport. The amount of the scholarship will be determined by January of each year by the Director of the University Advancement based on the interest earnings in the [...] More
To be considered for scholarships at Augustana based on academic performance and/or talent requires a completed Application for Admission and Scholarship. Students must earn at least a 3.0 GPA while enrolled at Augustana to maintain these scholarships in subsequent years.
Augustana Athletic Grants are awarded to outstanding student-athletes; NCAA Division II, Northern Sun Intercollegiate [...] More
The Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship was established because Billy was always helping people in any way that he could. It is a sport-related scholarship because it memorializes the activities Billy loved most.
Eligibility: -Applicant must be a graduating high school senior -Must reside in Winnebago, Boone, Ogle or Stephenson County -Must have played at least three years of baseball or [...] More
The scholarship is offered high school senior females who have participated in the Bobby Sox program for a minimum of four seasons. The Bobby Sox year consists of two seasons, the spring and the fall. Participation in Mini Sox, Bobby Sox, or American Girl is considered for eligibility. Primarily, the scholarship committee is interested that those girls who made Bobby Sox a part of their lives [...] More
The Athletics Scholarship is available to student-athletes in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies who are recommended for scholarship consideration by the CCU Athletics Department. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress, unless otherwise noted by the Athletics Department. Scholarship amounts vary. Prospective student athletes should contact their specific coach for further [...] More
The CSUB Albert Holloway Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Albert Holloway who served for many years on the academic support, intercollegiate athletics, nominating, and student support committees of the foundation. He was a great supporter of academics, extracurricular, student service programs, and the athletic program. In order to apply, you must be a student-athlete at [...] More
To be eligible for the IUTIS Club Scholarship, the applicant must be a high school senior who participated in the IUTIS Club (Sidney, Ohio) boys softball program for at least four years and plan to attend a two- or four-year college/university.
For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
To be eligible for an award from the Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund, the applicant must be a Russia High School (Shelby Co., Ohio) graduating senior pursuing an associate's or a bachelor's degree as a full-time student at an accredited educational institution. Applicant must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must've participated in at lease five (5) athletic seasons throughout high school. The [...] More
This scholarship fund was established in 2013 by family and friends of Coach Lozano. The scholarship is given annually to a graduating high school senior athlete from the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required and students must be interested in pursuing a degree in education and/or coaching for the purpose of teaching and coaching at the high school level [...] More
Awards - ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 - are available for basketball, baseball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and women's volleyball. Coaches determine recipients of these awards based on demonstrated talent and skill. If the athlete has an ACT of at least 27, they are eligible for this award. A WWU GPA of at least 3.0 is required for renewal.
This holiday season, give yourself the best gift a college student can receive: scholarships! What better way to wrap up the year and be financially prepared for next semester than by landing free money for college? If you still need help covering your upcoming tuition bills, these are some of the final scholarships of the year that can help foot the bill. Hurry and apply quick, as all of these scholarships have 2018 deadlines! Take advantage of your winter break by dedicating time to scholarship and grant applications and start next year off with a little less student debt.
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